The merry month of May got off to a running start in Pasadena on May 2 with tandem Kentucky Derby-themed parties.

The Blinn House Foundation staged its sixth annual Dr. Robert Winter Award Dinner, “A Run for the Roses Garden Party,” to coincide with the telecast of the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. The festivities got underway in mid-afternoon with frosty flutes of mint juleps and a viewing of the amazing 50-1 upset victory by Mine That Bird. Following the race, guests – several in Derby-day headgear – dined on authentic Blue Grass-country cuisine on the lawn of the Blinn House, the 1905 landmark that has been home to the Women’s City Club since 1945.

This year the foundation recognized Mic Hansen, one of its charter board members and first CFO, for outstanding service in local architectural preservation. Joining in the tribute were Foundation President Charlotte K. Reith, President-elect Floraline Stevens, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and past awardees Claire Bogaard, Susan Mossman, Ted Bosely, William Ellinger and Winter, who presented the award.

Hansen’s leadership and spirit of volunteerism has played a key role in the success of local preservation and city planning organizations such as Pasadena Heritage, the Pasadena Historic Preservation Commission, Leadership Pasadena, Heritage Housing Partners and the West Pasadena Residents Association. A petite dynamo, she helped save the Greene Brothers’ Herkimer Arms Apartments from the wrecking ball and was also instrumental in preserving and enhancing the Civic Center, bringing about an acceptable project for the Ambassador West property, protecting the Rose Bowl and creating the Governor Markham Landmark District. The quintessential volunteer, she has led countless architectural tours and provided instruction for Pasadena Heritage docents, Leadership Pasadena and city commissioners.

The Winter Award is yet another laurel for Hansen. She has been recognized by both the Pasadena and Los Angeles YWCA as well as Pasadena’s Women at Work.

“We are delighted to be honoring Mic,” Stevens said. “She was a unanimous choice!”

Although the doings, titled “A Day at the Derby,” began at twilight, this soiree brought out an array of Derby-day millinery and natty attire on both the ladies and the gents.

Nearly 200 guests turned out for the racing-themed party that raised more than $130,000 for programs for San Gabriel Valley families affected by a diagnosis of cancer.

Suzanne Gilman and Lydia Valenta co-chaired the event, which honored state Sen. Carol Liu and Dr. Raul R. Mena as Angel Awardees. Liu has been a longtime partner of TWC-F in making the Women’s Health Conference available to women at no charge. Mena, medical director of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, is a member of TWC’s Professional Advisory Board. Under his leadership, an off-site TWC program has been in place at the center for many years. He also helped establish a Spanish language TWC program in San Fernando. Jim Marlatt, a three-time cancer survivor and a volunteer at TWC-F for nearly 20 years, received the inaugural Volunteer Emeritus Award.

Fritz Coleman, the witty weatherman of KNBC 4 and ubiquitous doyen of charity auctions, was on hand for the second year to hawk everything from an African safari to a round of golf with Reggie Smith.

The California State PTA honored Carol Channing for her ongoing support of the arts in education on May 2. The Children’s Arts Advocate Award 2009 – the state PTA’s first such award – was presented to the legendary musical star at the organization’s 110th annual convention held in San Jose with more than 4,000 in attendance. She and her husband, Harry Kullijian, spoke to a crowd of thousands of PTA members and delegates, representing the organization’s nearly 1 million members in California.